Trenchless Works visits Minicam Group’s UK headquarters

By Austen Lees, Editor, Trenchless Works

I recently had the pleasure of visiting Stephen Harris, Managing Director of Minicam Group, at their impressive UK head office and manufacturing centre in Salford. During our discussion, we explored the group’s recent growth and strategic direction.

Minicam Group supports contractors and utility companies in maintaining the UK wastewater network. The group consists of four businesses: Minicam, which has over 30 years of experience in manufacturing push cameras and crawlers; Sewertronics, the LED curing specialist; Dancutter, which produces robotic equipment for reinstating connections following relining; and the recently acquired Hathorn, a specialist in robust inspection push cameras.

Since being acquired by Halma in 2017, Minicam Group has focused on identifying acquisitions to accelerate growth. This targeted strategy aims to fill gaps in service offerings while ensuring that the acquired companies share key values, particularly

“There is significant opportunity for organic growth across the group’s key markets, pressures on wastewater networks from ageing infrastructure and rising populations have led Minicam to experience annual growth rates in their core markets of between 5% and 10% a commitment to providing exceptional aftercare for customers across all brands.

This dedication to service is evident in the group’s recent acquisition of Hathorn, a manufacturer that distributes over 1,000 products annually, primarily for the domestic plumbing trade. Many of Hathorn’s push cameras utilise Wi-Fi connections for easy linking to users’ iPhones or tablets, making them ideal for household inspection jobs as well as larger contractors or utilities seeking to enhance their inspection capabilities.

Minicam’s existing range of equipment naturally supports those looking to scale up or requiring more data and reporting capabilities.

During my conversation with Stephen, he acknowledged the need for a period of consolidation, stating that: “There is significant opportunity for organic growth across the group’s key markets, pressures on wastewater networks from ageing infrastructure and rising populations have led Minicam to experience annual growth rates in their core markets of between 5% and 10%.”

There is also the obvious opportunity to expand the Minicam business in the US utilising the Hathorn network, and for the reverse to happen in the UK, where the Hathorn products will be sold under the Minicam brand in the company’s familiar orange livery. This gives Stephen confidence that the company can achieve its target of 10% growth year on year without diversifying into other utilities such as oil and gas. >

Regarding product development, Stephen emphasised the company’s mantra of “making sewer maintenance easy” and identified opportunities in the core markets that can be leveraged by providing robust, reliable, and easy-to-use equipment, backed by highquality service. The team sees little need for “all-singing, alldancing” equipment, focusing instead on the natural evolution of existing solutions. This strategy may include expanding their strengths in small diameter main line and lateral CIPP repairs to larger diameter pipes, potentially leading to the development of larger relining and crawling equipment.

This focus doesn’t, however, suppress Minicam’s desire to innovate. It was interesting to learn about a £1.6 million project funded by Pipebot Patrol, which will see Minicam collaborate with Northumbrian Water, Sheffield University, and Environmental Monitoring Solutions to develop a sewer robot capable of crawling through and inspecting miles of pipework, raising alerts at the precise locations of developing blockages.

Our conversation also touched on the increased use of AI, particularly in report generation and ensuring that the correct footage is recorded for their production. It was refreshing to hear a practical approach to

AMP cycle is unique, with this one defined by contractors refraining from placing orders until contracts were secured. Although last year was perhaps slightly quieter than expected, major contractor orders are now in place, and orders from smaller operators are following, positioning 2025 as a potentially record year

AI that emphasises support for operators rather than aiming to replace them entirely.

The activity levels at Minicam’s impressive UK manufacturing facility clearly indicate that AMP 8 funding is starting to flow through the market. Stephen noted that: “Each AMP cycle is unique, with this one defined by contractors refraining from placing orders until contracts were secured. Although last year was perhaps slightly quieter than expected, major contractor orders are now in place, and orders from smaller operators are following, positioning 2025 as a potentially record year.”

When asked about changes he would like to see in the UK market, Stephen pointed to its highly cyclical nature, characterised by acute peaks and troughs in demand around AMP cycles.

This volatility makes it challenging for manufacturers to meet the requirements of major contractors, especially concerning larger solutions such as vans, which are more resource- and space-intensive, and therefore harder to scale rapidly compared to cameras.

I would like to extend my thanks to Stephen and his team for their time and insight during my visit. It was a pleasure to learn so much about the business and to see firsthand their remarkable facility. I can certainly understand why, unlike many others, they have no difficulty with recruitment!